It’s a rare Thursday matinee in the NHL this week as the Minnesota Wild visit the Toronto Maple Leafs – are you aware that St. Paul, Minnesota, where the Wild play, is actually slightly further north than Toronto? The Leafs will be solid NHL odds favorites in our online sportsbook.
How to Bet Wild vs Maple Leafs NHL Week 13 Odds & Game Info
“You’re always a little surprised when you’re considered. I’ve had a lot of fun in the past and I just feel proud to get a chance to do it again.” More from Devan Dubnyk on heading to his third #NHLAllStar Game 👇 pic.twitter.com/L2erE7cAVz
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) 3 de enero de 2019
- When: Thursday, 2 PM ET
- Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
- TV: NHL Center Ice
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- Radio: TuneIn
- NHL Week 13 Odds: Toronto Maple Leafs -190 / Minnesota Wild +180 (Total 6)
Odds for Stanley Cup Possible Matchups
Team Records
- All: Wild 18-17-3 / Maple Leafs 26-11-2
- Home: Wild 10-7-3 / Maple Leafs 12-6-1
- Away: Wild 8-10 / Maple Leafs 14-5-1
- ATS: Wild 16-22 / Maple Leafs 20-19
- Over/Under: Wild 16-19-3 / Maple Leafs 19-17-3
Season Series
Last meeting. On Dec. 1, the Wild lost 5-3 at home to Toronto. Nazem Kadri broke a tie with 3:20 to play and Zach Hyman scored twice. Kadri’s goal bounced off Wild defenseman Nick Seeler, who was on the wrong end of two such plays Saturday. Seeler also had a puck deflect off him and into his own goal when Tyler Ennis scored Toronto’s second goal of the night. Hyman added an empty-net goal in the final minute. Auston Matthews also scored, and Frederick Anderson made 38 saves. The Maple Leafs were outshot 41-23 by the Wild and 18-8 in the third period.
If you are wondering why this is being played at 2 p.m. ET on a Thursday, it’s because the Leafs are calling it a “Next Generation Game.” The game is meant to mark a celebration for Maple Leafs fans of all ages — with a special emphasis on the future of hockey, both on and off the ice. Basically, the Leafs are hoping to lure kids to the game. The Leafs will host thousands of young fans. Pretty cool idea. Last season, the Maple Leafs hosted the “Next Century Game” on Dec. 19 and they routed Carolina 8-1.
Why Bet on Minnesota?
The Wild have been struggling of late and lost for the sixth time in the past seven on Monday, 3-2 vs. Pittsburgh. Phil Kessel had a goal and two assists, and Sidney Crosby added a goal and assist.
Mikko Koivu scored and added an assist in the loss. Koivu opened the scoring just under five minutes into the game and added an assist on Parise’s third-period goal. With his production, the 35-year-old is up to five goals and 23 points in 2018-19. It was Koivu’s 59th career power-play goal, tied with Marian Gaborik for most in franchise history.
Devan Dubnyk allowed three goals on 32 shots. The 32-year old had a decent outing but received minimal goal support. His record fell to 13-14-3 with a 2.62 GAA and a .912 save percentage.
Minnesota defenseman Nick Seeler (upper-body injury) skated before the game and coach Bruce Boudreau said Seeler could return on the team’s upcoming four-game road trip. Fellow blueliner Matt Bartkowski has been assigned to the minors. Bartkowski was sent down after Monday’s game against Pittsburgh when he made his second appearance of the season. He scored a goal in Saturday’s match versus Winnipeg. Defenseman Ryan Murphy was recalled by Minnesota. Murphy has three goals and 13 points in 27 games for the AHL’s Iowa Wild this season. He had five points in 21 matches for Minnesota last year.
The Wild are short-handed on defense with Matt Dumba out three months due to an upper-body injury. Dumba’s loss is a huge blow to Minnesota’s blue line, especially offensively. His 12 goals through the first 32 games led all NHL defensemen and put him on pace to smash his previous career best of 14 goals set last season in 82 games. Dumba was especially valuable on the Wild’s power play, scoring six times with the man advantage — already tied for the most in a single season in his career.
Why Bet on Toronto?
The Leafs had a five-game winning streak snapped in a 4-0 home loss to the Islanders on Saturday. Mathew Barzal, last year’s Calder Trophy winner, scored a natural hat trick in the second period. Robin Lehner made 36 saves for his second shutout of the season, and Ryan Pulock had two assists. The Islanders pounded the Maple Leafs in a reunion with former franchise player John Tavares, who signed with Toronto as a free agent July 1. Tavares finished the game with a minus-1 rating and five shots on goal.Garret Sparks allowed four goals on 28 shots in the loss. With Frederik Andersen nursing a groin injury, Sparks got his second start in as many nights. It was a rough outing with Barzal scoring a second-period natural hat trick in a span of less than eight minutes. Sparks saw his record fall to 6-2-1 with a 3.00 goals-against-average and a .905 save percentage.
Andersen (groin) won’t return to the lineup on Thursday so it will be Sparks again. Coach Mike Babcock did not have an update on a timeline for Andersen’s return. Babcock wasn’t sure whether it would be Michael Hutchinson or Kasimir Kaskisuo who will be recalled from the Toronto Marlies to back up Sparks.
Babcock also could make a major line change as William Nylander skated with Auston Matthews and Andreas Johnsson at practice this week. Nylander has picked up just two assists in 11 games since ending his contract holdout. He has been credited with 20 shots on goal but hasn’t found the back of the net. The Leafs also have recalled winger Trevor Moore from the Marlies. Moore was back on the fourth line with Frederik Gauthier and Par Lindholm during practice.
Latest Wild vs Maple Leafs NHL Week 13 Betting Trends
- Minnesota is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
- Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 games on the road
- Toronto is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of Toronto’s last 15 games
Expert NHL Betting Prediction fpr Wild vs Maple Leafs
Toronto wins 4-3.
